Volunteer Opportunities

Check Out Place Where YOU Can Get Involved

This list is only a sampling, and is growing – please use the form at the bottom of the page to let us know about where your give your time.

Community Kitchens: Saint Stephen’s sends volunteers to Grace Episcopal every Wednesday and Thursday all year to serve the Hungry for Community Kitchens. We have staffed these positions for over 10 years. We also plan the large Christmas party with a jazz band and food and a gift bag for around 140 adults — usually the Wednesday before Christmas! We have many volunteers that assist members from Grace in Woodlawn at that party which they look forward to all year long!!! Contact Lisa Rutherford (lrutherford9226@charter.net) or Dorothy Cochran (dotc3333@gmail.com).

The Abbey: We need volunteers from 5pm-7:30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (1-2 people per day). Volunteers will help us live into our mission of radical hospitality and authentic diversity by helping out behind the counter and by mentoring “buddy” volunteers from the Jimmie Hale Mission. Tasks include: Washing dishes, Wiping down tables, Sweeping and mopping, preparing complimentary coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches for homeless patrons, talking and engaging with the diversity of people who come in and out of The Abbey throughout the evening. Volunteers will always be working alongside a professional staff person. You can sign up HERE or contact Gustavo Arias at theabbeybham@gmail.com.

Meals on Wheels: SSEC delivers meals to those in need for Cahaba Heights the third and fifth weeks of every month. Contact Dolly King (dolly924@bellsouth.net).

Family Promise: Cody Pugh (codyallenpugh@gmail.com) is the FP coordinator, and volunteers to bring meals, chaperone at the church and more are always needed. SSEC hosted one family the week of January 7th. 2018 dates for hosting – weeks of: April 22, August 5, and November 18.

Thank Goodness I’m Fed: SSEC picks one week every June and delivers lunches for children in need through Greater Birmingham Ministries. We shop, prepare the lunches at the church and deliver them to a daycare facility Monday – Friday of that week. Please contact Zach Peagler (zach@zjplaw.com) for more information.

Companion Diocese (The Virgin Islands): Our Diocese is sending Care teams and Construction teams to the Virgin Islands in response to the destruction caused by two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017. Please contact Christine Mercer (cvmercer@gmail.com) for information about upcoming mission trips.

Laundry Love: SSEC will soon start a quarterly program to help those who do not have washers/dryers in their homes. SSEC will provide quarters, detergent pods, dryer sheets and crayons and coloring books for the children there, as well as volunteers to do the washing and drying. Contact CJ Van Slyke (cjenkinsro46@gmail.com) or Lisa Beatty (lisasbeatty@aol.com) for more information.

Sawyerville Day Camp: Need for temporary housing in Birmingham for the Sawyerville Interns this summer. The interns are all college students who have been selected from a large pool of applicants…really great and responsible young people. The dates at this point are as follows: May 13-25, June 10-12, July 8-20. Contact Dorothy Cochran (dotc3333@gmail.com).

Habitat for Humanity: Rob Gellings (robgellings@charter.net) is the chairperson for SSEC. Every year, volunteers from SSEC help build a home for those in need. Habitat has regular workdays every Thursday, Friday and Saturday that are available to volunteers.

Kairos: Sam Johnston (sam@arbourvalley.com) heads this prison ministry for SSEC. Kairos visits Elmore Prison twice a year and participates in monthly reunion lunches with inmates who have been through the Kairos program.

Grace Warming Station: Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn has a warning station. Kay Williams is in charge and usually opens when the temperature falls below freezing. Her contact number is 205-305-4179, or contact Lisa Beatty (lisasbeatty@aol.com).

Special Equestrians: Special Equestrians provide high quality therapeutic horseback riding and equine assisted activities to persons with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities. They are always looking for volunteers. Please contact Christine Mercer (cvmercer@gmail.com) for information about volunteering. Specialequest.org

Foothills Day Camp: Volunteer at Foothills Day Camp in Anniston over the summer. It is just like Sawyerville, but in Anniston, AL. This happens for a week in July. They are always looking for volunteers, teenagers and adults. Contact Christine Mercer (cvmercer@gmail.com)

AARP (tax aide): Volunteer with AARP as a Tax Aide preparing taxes for people at the Hoover Library on Monday thru Wednesday during tax season, starting in 2018. Contact Rob Gellings (robgellings@charter.net)

STAIR Program: Volunteer for the STAIR program. It stands for Start The Adventure In Reading. They offer tutoring to 2nd graders in inner city schools who are having trouble reading. It is just an hour in the afternoons from 3:30-4:30. Contact Dolly King (dolly924@bellsouth.net)

Hands on Birmingham: Hands on Birmingham is a great link to find volunteer opportunities, contact Dolly King (dolly924@bellsouth.net)

Special Session at Camp McDowell: Special Session is a week-long camp for adults with mental and physical disabilities. Saint Stephen’s is sponsoring the first night of Session I this summer! On June 11, we will head to Camp McDowell to provide a gently haunted hayride and Trunk or Treat for the evening’s Halloween theme. There will also be several opportunities this semester to help make props and put goody bags together if you are unable to make it in June. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jen Manning at Jen@ssechurch.org. If you are between the ages of 16-22 and would like to staff Special Session this summer, you can click HERE for more information and online registration.

Grace Woodlawn is asking for help with a demolition project! They are renovating an old church for use with their Grace Works summer program. We need people to help with weed-eating, trimming, hauling debris, knocking down plaster, and working on flooring. We will be taking teams on April 14 and April 28. 3-hour shifts are available in the morning and afternoons. If you can help, please contact Danielle Dunbar at dadunbar4828@gmail.com.

Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation: We provide $1 rides to seniors living in the Vestavia Hills area so that they don’t have to give up going places just because they can no longer drive! We are looking for a new leader and drivers for our volunteer program. Contact Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation if you can help (205) 978-0166.

Grace Works: Our mission is to provide a safe haven and educational experiences for young people during the summer. The ministry strives to equip participants with visions of a future past the present moment and beyond neighborhoods plagued with poverty and violence. GraceWorks provides food, clothes, tools, materials, and mentors to teach 10-14 year-olds basic carpentry and landscaping skills through community projects. The skills learned during the program empower the young teens and help them see the possibilities of pursuing a career or profession. To sign up, click HERE.

Christ Health Center in Woodlawn is looking for someone to help with their “Bundle of Hope” diaper ministry for new mothers. It requires 3-4 hrs a month. If interested, please contact Deacon CJ at cjenkinsro46@gmail.com.